195

u Still more: When I left this assembly, in my
" progess I arrived at a sea without borders; liow-
44 soever I strained my sight, I could not perceive
44 any boundary or shore; and at this sea I saw a
<c river, and an angel who was pouring the sea-
" water into the river, and from thence the water
44 ran to every place." By " the sea," he implies
the first intelligence; and by " the river," the first
spirit.

" Likewise : On the level of that sea, I perceived
44 a great desert, greater than which I had never
*c seen any space, so that, in spite of my endeavor, I
44 found neither the beginning nor the end of it.'9
That is: I could not assign a limit to what was more
extensive than any thing else, as the comprehension
of a pure being belongs only to a perfect intelli-
gence.

Ci In continuance: On the level of the sea and the
44 desert, I saw an angel surrounded with every
44 grandeur, splendor, and pomp, who guarded both
*' halves with facility; he called me to him, and
44 having joined him, I asked: ; What is thy name?'
44 He answered: (iMikdil: I am the greatest of all
" angels; whatever is difficult, ask it from me; and
14 whatever thou desirest, demand it from me: I will
" satisfy all thy wishes." This means: When I had
learned and considered all this, I understood the
first command. And the Angel represents what is

v. in. 13